Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-09-21

laughter and declined to come to the
rescue.
Marlborough was reached at last, and
we walked up to the headmaster's house.
With some difficulty and two half crowns
induced the incredulous butler to usher us
In. and having get rid Of his first notion
that It was, as he said, "a 'oax," found
/ had cast out the first devil only to have
a more wicked one take his place; for
now he winked loosely and babe us
sscome this way, young genie men," and
actually poked me in the ribs before go
ing round the screen and ushering us into
the DOCTORS presence. was wild with
wrath ut the indignity. Doctor" said
], fiercely and shrilly, II must protest, I
insist, SIR" He glared At me haughttly,
and then, turning 10 my lout, said, IT'S
this some farcsf II, sir, as suppose,
you arc bringing your little brother to en-
ter him at the school, let me say that we
have the Means and he swishsd his
hand through the air, 'sof correcting that
unbridlod and insubordinate demeanor
which the loss, no doubt, Of father, and
the absence Of parental control, has IN
duced in him. see," said he, as the
gaby turned crimson and shuffied from
one foot to the other, ssyour brothers
pertness not unnaturally discomposes you;
believe me, attach no blame to You, and
think" he added significantly, 1--WE can
soon remedy it."
MY cup brimmed over. What exactly
I said I viii not repeat. Let me not for
get that am a clergyman, and that 1t u
my duty alike to forgive my enemies and
to eschew bad language; but for the
nonce my language was very bad indeed,
and very wrathful; and the matter was
made all the worse by the fact that
the doctor was but young man. "St, -
cried, 1T took an honorable degree at
Oxford when you were still being birched
at school, and was q priest in holy orders
before ever you were in coat tails. How
dare you gibs ut my personal appearance
sirf How dare you make mock OF my
intirmity! You seem 30 inhunsA, and 30
tndecently fond Of the most degrading
part of your duties, that would gladly
leave this grinning oaf with you, and then
he would get the thrashing he deserves
for exulting in his fathers discontinue.
But then / should have to speak with
you, sir; to speak with you! and ] VIII
| not lower myself by having anything to
do with you; evil communications corrupt
good manners, sir, and will not stoop to
imperil my own good breeding by COM
municating with pedagogue, who, in
stead Of q scholar and gentleman, APP
pears to be q coxcomb and boor;" and
with this TRADE flung out OF the room In
a rage, and my son skunk ont .at I1y heels
was speechiess with fury till we got
some distance from the house. Then,
looking up, saw that my wretched boy
was staggering still, and in my mortifca-
ton struck him with my cane. There
were several of the lads about, and he, poor
fellow, was high and mighty in his new
tail coat, and he felt the indignity. He
lost his temper, as I had lost mine, and,
turning on me, he boxed my ears. This
was too much. To what depth Of con-
tempt must have fallenl I dropped on
q bench and burst into tears-the bitter
est tears, think, that ever man shed.
I gave him money and sent him home
alone, and then wandered away in indie
scribable wretchedness. was blind to
all that passed; I neither saw nor cared
where went. I could not even pursue
one train of thought, however miserable.
| Not that any oblivion came mercifully tc
relieve me from my sufferings passed
| through moment after moment Of exqui-
| site pain, but each seemed isolated, and to
be endured by itself separately, and with.
| out any continuity with either Hhe mo-
ments that went before or those which
| followed after. How the time went I dc
not know, but after what thought was q
great while I found myself sitting by q
dull, dark stream, staring gloomily into it
| I do not know what was passing through
my mind; perhaps no settled thought had
| formed itself; but was in very abyss Of
despair. Suddenly I felt o little hand
thrust into mine, and child kissed Ne
| I looked up and saw village girl Of 2 Vol
! 8 years old, very plain bat for a pair Of
wistful eyes, who gaxed pitifully at me
and said, 'Poc' boyp' From her lips did
not vince at the reproaeh Of youth. Slowly
came out Of the dark mood In which wal
ready for know not what rash act; and
| in talking to the little girl, and feeling
her hand conhdingiy in mine, ! gradually
| found composure and resignation. She
was very shy, and even stupid, and, wher
I got her to speak, her voice was coarse
and she talked in villainously provincial
accent; but still, by her mute kindlinesl
and fellow feeling, she had saved me from
what dared not contemplate, and owe6
her debt of gratitude which could moi
pay.
Alasl these milder moments wfe moi
for long. At last reached horse, and
found the boy, who had preceded we, had
told his story from his own point Of view,
and my wife, perhaps rightly, took his
part. ST suppose" she said with stately
censure, "I suppose it is useless to hope
that you are ashamed of yourself, but
am ashamed of you. No wonder you LOOK
such baby when you give way. to such
childish tempers. At your age to mind
what you look hkel You don't act like q
man and you don't deserve to be treated
like one. And to strike the poor boy be-
fore tho whole schools Oh, IT was toe
badr'
dare say 10 was, but IL was not ais
| Greet to tell me 80, and she does not know
what I feel. Her ending has brought
back all my old bitterness and gloom,
| and I think II / were now on that river
bank again, not even the little girl would
save me. But men are weak, and for the
present, for want of convenient way
over to the other side, must stay on this
and abide my life as best can. When
am gone, IL go, this narrative may per.
haps lead few to think, not too harshly
Of me.-Jerome Yeo In Belgravia.
1 ,